The woman accusing New England Patriot's wide receiver Antonio Brown of rape is Britney Taylor. Taylor is 28 and a former gymnast who attended LSU and Central Michigan University, where Brown also played college football. Brown had contacted Taylor via social media in 2013 and again in 2017 when he asked her to help him train and strengthen areas of the body that are focused more on gymnastics. Taylor says she was sexually assaulted by Brown in 2017 and 2018.
About Britney Taylor: she began training in gymnastics at the age of 3. As her talent in the sport grew, she was offered 14 full-ride scholarships to universities throughout the country. She attended Central Michigan University where she minored in business and transferred to Louisiana State University where she graduated in 2013 with a degree in sports administration and business management. After graduating college, Taylor opened a gymnastic studio in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee called Taylor’Ed Gymnastics.
Taylor's relationship with Antonio Brown: in 2013, during her senior year of college she was first contacted by Brown via social media who requested a photo of her. According to the lawsuit, Brown made contact again in 2017, to ask Taylor how she was doing, and “During the course of this renewed contact, Brown indicated he wanted Ms. Taylor’s help improving flexibility and strength in his ankles and fast twitch muscles – areas in which she had developed expertise through gymnastics,” Taylor’s attorneys wrote. “As a result, the two agreed that Ms. Taylor would provide physical training services to Brown. The arrangement between them included Ms. Taylor flying to locations in Pittsburgh and Florida where Brown had homes and where he trained. Ms. Taylor never dated or had an interest in any romantic relationship with Brown. Their relationship, as far as Ms. Taylor believed and behaved, was that of a ‘brother-sister’ type.”
The details of Brown and Taylor's client/trainer relationship are lengthy as detailed in this Heavy article and appear to be a bit tangled. The incidents surrounding the alleged rape are graphic and have become very public on social media.
Antonio Brown's attorney Darren Heitner released a statement denying the allegations "[Mr. Brown] will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name but to also protect other professional athletes against false accusations," Heitner said. He additionally claimed that Taylor's lawsuit was motivated by money, that Taylor and Brown had a "consensual personal relationship" and "any sexual interaction with Mr. Brown was entirely consensual."
The Patriots were quick to respond with a statement “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstance does this organization condone sexual violence or assault. The league has informed us that they will be investigating. We will have no further comment while that investigation takes place.” Latest reports state that the NFL is giving "serious consideration" to placing Brown on the league's exempt list, which would prevent him from playing while it conducts an investigation.
ESPN has reported that Britney Taylor will be meeting with the NFL soon.
The Britney Taylor - Antonio Brown Lawsuit can be read here.
Antonio Brown Accused Of Raping His Former Trainer
By Lauren Crawford